Family and friends pay tribute to Clutha tragedy pilot

The family of hero pilot David Traill yesterday paid an emotional farewell to a “brave and courageous man”.

The 51-year-old was the first of nine victims of the Clutha Bar tragedy to be laid to rest.

Around 700 mourners gathered at Glasgow University’s Bute Hall to pay their respects to the Gulf War Veteran, nicknamed Swampy, who lived in Lochwinnoch.

His father Iain, fiance Lucy, sister-in-law Mary and her three school-aged sons were visibly shaken as they said goodbye to the man who “lived life well and lived life full”.

It was the second son widower Iain had lost in recent years after younger son Angus married to Mary succumbed to throat cancer three years ago.

Angus and Mary’s oldest son, also called David Traill, decked out in a green kilt and named after his uncle, was one of the six pallbearers.

Reverend Stuart MacQuarrie read out a touching tribute from Lucy, who decided on the church because she had graduated from the university.

She wrote: “I only knew Dave for four years nine months and three days, but they were all precious, special, even the difficult ones.

“I can’t even begin to imagine life without him.

“He had no idea who much he was loved by everyone, he had no idea how much he was respected, he had no idea he would die a hero.

“He knew how much I loved him though.”

Before the memorial, a guard of honour was formed, with police officers on one side and air ambulance pilots and paramedics on the other.

The funeral cortege was led by police outriders and was joined by a friend of Captain Traill who rode his Harley Davidson motorcycle with the number plate D1 TRL.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Stephen House, Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson and Clutha Bar owner Alan Crossan were among those who attended.

Rev MacQuarrie told the mourners: “David died in tragic circumstances when the helicopter he was flying plunged to the ground with little or no warning.

“From what I’ve learned of this brave and courageous man, I’m absolutely certain that David would have done absolutely everything he could to safeguard his colleagues in the aircraft and people who were on the ground.

“I’m convinced David’s skills and experience minimised the loss of life on the ground.”

A close friend from Capt Traill’s time in the RAF read a tribute to “the greatest friend a man could hope for”.

Andy Rooney said: “David, Dave, Davey, Swampy he was different things to different people and he touched many lives.

“But there was a consistency to him that few could match and many could envy.

“The calm he offered, the warmth with which he was received.

“He was the greatest friend a man could hope for. A steady, loyal brother in arms.

“He wasn’t perfect, that would be tedious. He was a helicopter pilot who didn’t like heights.

“You could get him in a helicopter, but you couldn’t get him up a set of ladders. He was a pilot who got airsick, to be fair this was mostly on fixed-wing planes.”

Mr Rooney spoke of Mr Traill’s “long and illustrious military career” and shared anecdotes from their time working together.

He added: “He knew how to enjoy life and share that joy. So on this day we remember Dave, our friend and trusted colleague.

“A much loved and modest man. He will leave an enormous gap in our lives but he would want us to smile and live on.”

The Ellie Goulding song How Long Will I Love You was played, a tune Captain Traill’s partner said he heard on the radio one day and had made him cry.

Before the service concluded, mourners were invited to sing along to the Proclaimers’ Life With You, which the couple had planned to play at their wedding.

Finally as the 55-minute service ended, Gary Barlow’s Let Me Go was played as Captain Traill’s coffin was carried out accompanied by a piper who played Flower of Scotland.

His employer, Bond Air Services, said: “His untimely death has been deeply felt by his family, friends and colleagues who mourn his passing with a sense of intense loss and

sorrow.

“Dave Traill was an esteemed colleague, a legend amongst his peers and, above all, everyone’s friend. We will miss him.”

The other crew members who died in the incident were Police Constables Kirsty Nelis, 36, and Tony Collins, 43.

Six people died inside the pub where live music was being played. They were Robert Jenkins, 61, Mark O’Prey, 44, Colin Gibson, 33, John McGarrigle, 57, Gary Arthur, 48, and Samuel McGhee, 56.